and im not sure if anyone answered the question but you can connect all consoles to the internet (xbox being the most expensive), but i think gamecube can take modems, although i wouldnt recommend it. ps2 can connect to another ps2 with a link cable but if you have a hub you can link 4 xbox's together, without you can just link two. xbox's only downside is the cost of online play for it and that watching DVD's requires a special dvd remote and reciever for it, which plugs into a controller port. and speaking of controller ports, gc and xbox have 4 while ps2 has 2 (you need to buy a multitap for 4). i'd also recommend xbox for the hardware it has. wireless controllers, mini screens you can plug into it, light guns, memory cards and even a special memory card that lets you take data from your xbox, plug it into your pc and either put the data on the net or email it to a friend. without a memory card xbox will store data on its hard drive, which starts at +56000 blocks and will probably never change no matter how many save games you put on it. theres plenty of d/l content on xbox live and the demo discs availible with the official mag. bottom line is get an xbox. careful though, theyre pretty damn heavy.